NYC Pre-war Expert

Light-view-space filled apartments with more useable (enjoyable!) space.

Gramercy Pied à Terre

NEW YORK, NY

Prioritize Communication

We are a relationship-first company.

GOLD WINNER Houzee Awards 2024: Compact Living Design – Interior Category.
HONORABLE MENTION BLT Design Awards 2023: Interior Design / Residential Category.

Read Allegra’s design insights about this project in our blog post

THE STORY

THE CHALLENGE: This 450 SF studio apartment in the fashionable Gramercy NYC neighborhood was small! The charming and large casement window was advantageous but only visible from half the apartment. There was insufficient closet space and outdated finishes. All of the solutions needed to be eco-friendly, cost-sensitive, and reuse what we could.

THE CLIENT: A chic bi-coastal businesswoman with a passion for art sought a Manhattan pied-à-terre. She craved a space that exuded comfort, felt like home, and allowed for seamless entertaining during her frequent visits to the city.

THE TRANSFORMATION: This 450sf studio acts bigger than it is. We maximized space and light and eliminated unnecessary elements. The large window now offers city views from every corner. We uncluttered the Kitchen, reused the cabinets, and moved everything below the counter. We carefully selected furniture to accommodate entertaining guests, and intimate dinners for two. We devised a spacious closet with a dressing room experience, a smart night-time configuration, and under-bed storage. Some new bathroom finishes and new art lighting elevated the studio to match its posh surroundings.

BEFORE Built-in cabinetry blocks the view of 2 windows and divides the space.
AFTER The whole apartment is now visible upon entering; each element draws the visitor through the space toward a light-filled sitting room with a classically proportioned casement window.

An inviting kitchen with drinks and food on the counter, a table set for four with a sofa, a large window, and art on the walls beyond. — The dining table opens to seats 4-6; the interior shade separates the sleeping nook from the more public spaces.

Modern open-concept kitchen and living space with white cabinets and countertops wrap in front of you and along the left wall; a cafe table and two chairs, a side chair sits on a dark wood floor in the middle of the light-filled space; an L-shaped sofa fills the width of the apartment and sits under a large casement window; large abstract artwork and a wall mounted TV fill the available walls. — Continuous countertops integrate the kitchen with the living area. The Furnishings gracefully adapt to a gathering, a sleepover, or time alone.

Looking the other way toward the front door, the all-white kitchen is below the counter, allowing your view to extend through the apartment. — To make the apartment feel more extensive, we removed an extraneous partition, soﬃt, and cabinet to make the space more expansive.

Sleek, compact white kitchen with an expandable cafe table and two chairs. — This minimalist kitchen integrates into the main entertaining space with full amenity appliances below the counter.

The daybed is decorative and inviting during the day.
It transforms into a calm sleeping alcove at night.

Empty room entrance with white walls, dark hardwood floors, and grey structural column.

A cozy, curtained sleeping alcove white with red accents on the bedding. A small painting and light slot personalize the space. A built-in dresser and a wide closet are on the far side.

BEFORE Looking toward the front door.
AFTER The floor area is maximized with customized storage, and the bed is tucked into a nook under a window for fresh air.